Chart of the Week: Support for medical cannabis legalization in key states

Note: This is the first of two charts examining polling numbers in key states that could legalize medical or recreational marijuana in 2016. Today’s chart focuses on medical cannabis states – check back next Monday for a look at support levels in recreational battlegrounds.

If the latest polls are any indication, the cannabis industry will be celebrating the legalization of medical marijuana in Florida and Ohio this November.

In Florida, where United for Care is taking its second stab at legalizing MMJ, a Public Policy Polling survey last month found that 65% of voters support the initiative, which has already qualified for the ballot.

The measure needs to hit the 60% threshold to pass, so the odds look good at this point.

In Ohio, where the Marijuana Policy Project will in all likelihood get an MMJ measure on the November ballot, the same polling organization found that 74% of voters back amending the state constitution to guarantee access to medical cannabis for those with “terminal or debilitating medical conditions.”

That’s well above the 50% mark the measure will need to become law should it get on the November ballot.

Of course, anything can happen between now and the election, and the numbers will likely fluctuate in the coming months.

Additionally, despite strong support levels in each state, the figures are actually lower than the roughly 80% of Americans nationwide who said in a poll taken last year that they are in favor of legalizing medical cannabis.

Having said that, the national poll was taken by a different group at a different time, and it’s clear that a wide majority of voters in both Florida and Ohio support medical cannabis legalization.

2 comments on “Chart of the Week: Support for medical cannabis legalization in key states”

I am one American in a sea of one hundred million who lives each day with #ChronicPain. It’s really great to see this country heading in the right direction where #medical #marijuana is concerned. Hopefully Florida is next.

Hi Annie. It is exciting to think that we soon will be legally able to acquire a medicine that can provide relief without side effects. If you are looking forward to being a future Medical Marijuana Patient in the state of Florida, please consider visiting http://www.cannabiscaregiversandpatients.com. We are simply trying to build a community of medicinal cannabis caregivers and patients and prepare them for registration with the state when the time comes. If we can form a group of organised and registered potential customers to a cannabis cultivation facility, it will provide leverage to negotiate growing by our high standards, testing all product and selling to caregivers for a fair price. Check it out and sign up if interested.